POKEMON-BURGLARY

Thief steals 250K in Pokémon goods from Forest Lake shop

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The owners of a business in Forest Lake said a thief broke into theirgame shop and stole Pokémon merchandise they estimate was worth $250,000. The thief avoided the store’s security system Thursday morning by breaking into a vacant business next door and then busting through the wall to enter the gaming store’s storage areas.The thief removed two room’s worth of inventory without entering the main store, which would have triggered an alarm. Twin brothers Eric and Mike Johnsonown Punch-Out Gaming. Eric Johnson says the thief focused on Pokémon, leaving behind other items, including a bank cash bag.

MINNEAPOLIS-POLICE SHOOTING-CHIEF

Barely in job, new chief feels heat from Amir Locke shooting

The fatal shooting of a 22-year-old Black man by police in Minneapolis is turning up the heat on the city’s police chief. Amelia Huffman was elevated to the top job on an interim basis just weeks before Amir Locke was slain by officers serving a search warrant. Longstanding community mistrust of the department has gained steam due to activists’ anger at how the warrant was carried out and some of the department’s statements since. Huffman, who joined the department in 1994, built a wide-ranging resume before taking over in January to replace the retiring Medaria Arradondo.

AMBULANCE CRASH-FATAL

Man killed after ambulance collides with snowmobile

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities say a man died after crash involving a snowmobile and an ambulance in St. Louis County, in northern Minnesota. It happened Saturday afternoon as St. Louis County sheriff’s deputies responded to a crash on Ash River Trail, about a half-mile east of Hwy. 53. An ambulance from the Kabetogama Fire Department was en route to a medical call and traveling east on Ash River Trail when it struck a snowmobile on the road. The snowmobile driver, a 61-year-old man, was declared dead at the scene. His name has not been released.

SHOOTING DEATHS-ID

Authorities ID men found fatally shot in car in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities have identified the two men found shot to death in a car in north Minneapolis. Malik Travon Carr-Riggins and Case Samuel Ritzman died of multiple gunshot wounds. The shooting occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday in the 2000 block of Sheridan Avenue N. A witness reported seeing a possible suspect running from the car moments after the shooting and several spent shell casings were found inside the vehicle, according to authorities. Several shots were fired from a passing car when officers were setting up a perimeter around the scene, but no one was injured.

GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL-RIGHTS-JUDGE

In 2nd Floyd killing trial, judge seeks speed, not emotion

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The judge handling the second trial in the killing of George Floyd is putting a premium on speed — and making clear that he doesn’t want the trial to turn on emotion. Judge Paul Magnuson is presiding over the federal trial of fired Minneapolis officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. Through three weeks of testimony, Magnuson has pushed attorneys to cooperate on routine matters such as replaying videos and ordered them to reduce exhibits. He has also frequently rejected time-consuming sidebars. Magnuson has made clear he worries about COVID-19 disrupting the trial. At the same time, he has worked to keep emotional testimony to a minimum, sometimes frustrating prosecutors.

OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING-FATAL

Man fatally shot after police chase in Minnesota

EDEN VALLEY, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after a man was shot to death in an exchange of gunfire with police. The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office says the shooting happened early Saturday just west of Eden Valley. The sheriff’s office says a police officer earlier tried to pull a vehicle over in Eden Valley, but the driver fled. The chase ended when the vehicle drove into a ditch. The driver got out of the vehicle and exchanged gunfire with the officer. Authorities say the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Eden Valley police do not wear body cameras, but a camera in the squad car recorded what happened. Authorities have not released the names of the man killed and the officers involved.

WRONG-WAY CRASH-FATAL

Mankato man dies after being struck running from crash

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say a 20-year-old Mankato man is dead after he was hit by three vehicles after running from a wrong-way crash on Interstate 35W in Burnsville early Saturday. The man, whose name has not yet been released, entered northbound I-35 at Crystal Lake Road while driving south before 3 a.m. Saturday. The State Patrol said his car struck a vehicle head-on and then rolled onto the right shoulder, landing on its roof. The man then ran into the southbound lanes of traffic and was struck by a semitrailer truck traveling south, as well as two other vehicles. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL RIGHTS

Teen bystander: Knew instantly Floyd was `in distress’

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A woman who was 17 when she came upon the sight of Minneapolis police pinning George Floyd to the street testified she knew instantly that the Black man was “in distress.” Alyssa Funari took the stand Friday in the federal trial of three former officers who are charged with violating Floyd’s civil rights. J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are all accused of failing to provide Floyd with medical care while he was handcuffed, facedown with Chauvin’s knee pressed onto his neck. Prosecutors have argued that Floyd’s situation was so serious that even bystanders with no medical training knew he needed help, and that the officers had a duty to provide care.